Halifax care home put in special measures by inspectors

Improvements have been ordered at an elderly care home after it was rated “inadequate” by government inspectors.

Laurel Bank, a 37-bed home on Holdsworth Road, Holmfield, has been placed in special measures by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Laurel Bank Care Home, Holmfield.

The watchdog criticised staff training, the storage of medicines and record keeping after an inspection on July 6.

The CQC’s report said residents and families praised the home during the inspection.

One person said: “The staff are fine. Absolutely perfect.”

Another told the inspectors: “Nothing is too much trouble for them, they are special. It’s a wonderful, wonderful place.”

The report said: “However this was not universally so.

“We identified some instances where people’s privacy and dignity was not always upheld.”

Inspectors said drugs were not being properly accounted for at the home and some were stored in a de-frosting fridge with water dripping onto boxed medicines.

Their report said: “This meant we were not satisfied that medicines were safely stored in the medicines fridge or at the correct temperature and an accurate record of the temperature was not being recorded.”

The report said there were enough staff to care for residents at the home, but some care workers did not have up to date safety training.

It said: “Training had been provided in an inconsistent manner, with a number of staff not receiving training in key subjects.